HDP brings censure for PM Erdogan over mining disaster

ANKARA - People's Democratic Party (HDP) submitted a censure motion Wednesday on PM Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey's energy and labor ministers over the 13 May Soma coal mine tragedy in western Turkey in which 301 miners died.

In a press conference at parliament, HDP deputy Hasip Kaplan asserted Erdogan is politically responsible for the mining tragedy.

"Erdogan's government acted irresponsibly in the rescue mission in the mining disaster," he said, and added, "We submitted a censure motion on PM Erdogan for his frivolous and oppressive politics in which he also protects those accused in the tragedy."

HDP also claimed the Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik have also acted irresponsibly in the rescue mission in the mining disaster.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) also brought a censure motion against two ministers on Tuesday.

The Soma tragedy was the worst mining disaster in Turkey’s history with 301 victims officially announced, surpassing a firedamp explosion in 1992 in which 263 miners died in Zonguldak.

A total of 485 miners were rescued from the mine, Energy Minister Yildiz has said.

More than thirty people were detained and eight were arrested in the investigation into the mine disaster so far.